Conf  Pam  l2mo  #521 


No.  78. 


A  SHORT  HISTORY 

OF  THE  LIFE,  CHARACTER  AND  DEATH  OF 
CAPT.   JOHN  B.  ANDREWS. 


iiy  RKv.  WALTER  w,  rnA»«,  or  N.  c. 


It  it  believed  tliat  there  are  aa  many  pious  officers  and  soldiere 
in  the  Confederate  Army,  as  have  ever  been  drawn  together 
in  camp,  or  on  the  feld  of  battle  since  the  days  of  Cromwell. 
This  is  no  doubt  oti«  gr«at  Mcrct  in  that  aetonishing  courage 
which  they  have  tihibited,  and  those  glorious  victories  whick 
they  have  achieved.  It  is  aa  acknowledged  fact  tkat  the 
best  ofhcers  -and  the  bravest  soldiers  in  the  def»»ce  •f  our 
rights  are  those  who  ar«  good  soldiera  of  the  cross  of  Christ. 

By  this  dcRDlating  and  cruel  war  the  church  has  been  robbed 
of  some  of  her  strongeet  pillara  and  brigheet  ornaments. 
Many  of  our  oflicera  are  tatn  of  devoted  piety,  who  have, 
and  do  exert  a  salutary,  moral  and  religious  influence  ovor 
the  men  under  their  commaad.  This  wa8,inahigh  degree, 
the  character  of  Capt.  J.  B.  Andrews.  The  faith  tkat  waa 
found  in  euch  lively  exercise  in  the  life,  which  shed  such  a 
lustre  in  the  character  and  imparted  such  triumph  to 'the 
death  of  this  officer,  this,  like  the  faith  of  Timothy,  (so 
kighly  commended  by  an  inspired  ptn)  first  dwelt  in  his 
mother,  and  also  in  his  grand-mother.  It  is  an  unspeakable 
blessing  to  have  the  resbrainti,  the  instruction,  and  the  ex- 
ample of  pious  parents,  in  that  important  period  of  our  his- 
tory when  .oui«- habits  *re  forming,  when  our  principles  are 
becoming  fixed,  and  our  characters  are  taking  their  complex- 
ion for  eternity.  Capt.  Andrews  was  a  native  of  Rowan 
County,  North  Carolina.  He  graduated  with  distinction  in 
the  University  of  his  native  State,   May,  1854,  just  one  day 


after  he  had  reached  liis  majority.  He  then  engaged  lor  a  time 
in  teaching  with  Mr.  Bingham,  in  Alamance  county.  Subse- 
«]ucntly  lie  was  associated  wath  another  gentleman  in  the 
charge  of  the  Classical  and  Military  Academy  in  Wilmington. 
In  185G  his  health  and  hie  desire  for  mental  improvement  led 
him  to  travel  in  Europe.  Soon  after  his  return  from  his  for- 
eign tolir,  he  was  elected  Professor  in  the  Concord  Female 
College,  located  in  Statesville,.and  uneler  the  care  of  Con- 
cord Presbytery.  -  This  position  by  his  promptness,  bis  energy, 
his  gentlemanly  bearing,  his  active  piety — he  filled  for  more 
than  a  year,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  His 
kind  feelings  and  amiable  disposition  commended  him  to  all 
who  knew  him.  He  resigned  his  place  in  the  College,  and  at 
the  earnest  solicitation  of  many  parents,  he  opened  in  the 
town  of  Statesville  a  Classical  and  Military  Academy.  This 
institution  was  very  prosperous  under  bis  judicious  manage- 
ment. His  influence  oyer  his  pupils  was  both  great  and  good.. 
He  governed  his  Academy  with  eminent  success  He  reverenced 
the  majesty  of  heaven — he  was  a  man  of  prayer — his  pupils, 
both  loved  and  feared  him.  His  place  in  the  house  of  God  at 
preaching  or  prayer  meeting  was  never  vacant  unless  from 
Providential  hindr|ince.  He  was  not  only  present,  but  was 
ever  ready  to  assist  by  leading  the  devotioasof  the  congrega- 
tion. The  example  which  he  set  before,  and  the  influence 
which  he  exerted  over  the  young  men  where  he  resided  was 
highly  favorable  to  morality  and  religion. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities  in  our  country,  he 
raised  a  company  of  Infantry  composed  largely  of  his  own  pu- 
pils. He  joined  the  gallant  Fourth  Kegiment  ei  North  Caro- 
lina >State  Troops — shared  in  all  its  hardships,  trials  and  tri- 
umphs from  Carolina  to  Manassas — from  Manassas  to  York- 
town,  Williamsburg  and  the  Pines,  and  was  never  again 
seen  at  home  until  the  day  of  his  death.  In  the  series  of 
bloody  battles  around  Richmond,  while  m  the  gallant  dis- 
charge of  his  duty, a  ball  wounded  his  hand  and  lodged  in  his 
breast.  When  ho  ha-d  so  far  recovered,  that  he  was  about  to 
leave  Richmond  on  furlougti,  he  was.  taken  with  the  fever. 
Erysipelas  ensued,  and  about  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  the  23d  of 
July,  in  tj^e  30th  yearof^his  age,  his  spirit  left  its  tenement  of 


3 


clay,  and  returned  to  ^od  who  gave  it.  His  remains  wer^ 
brought  home  and  intered  in  Statcsville,  where  he  will 
sleep  undisturbed  by  the  clash  of  arms,  or  the  shock  of  battle 
until  the  mornmg  of  the  resurrection.  Three  davs  after- 
wards his  venerable  mother— a  mother  in  Israel-^was  lai.t 
by  his  side.  They  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  live^. 
and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not  divided.  Perhaps  noouo 
in  Western  North  Carolina,  for  many  y«ars,  has  exerted  so  fa- 
vorable an  influence  upon  th«  cause  of  education,  religion 
and  patriotism  with  so  little  ostentation  as  Captain  Andrews 
Some  twelve  or  fourteen  officers  from  Statesville  and  th^^ 
vicinity  are,  or  have  been,  in  the  army  instructed  by  Captain 
Andrews,  or  holding  their  position  through  his  influence. 
But  above  all  he  lived  the  life  of  the  Christian.  And  while  he 
was  fighting  the  battles  of  his  country  he  did  not  forgeUo. 
fight  the  good  fight  of  fajth.  He  died  the  Christian's  death, 
and  IS  doubtlc.^8  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  tha't  rest  that  re- 
mains for  tlie  people  of  God.  When  about  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  connected  himself  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
OrreensboroTwhither  his  father  had  moved  from  Eowan.  Thus 
early  in  life  was  his  heart  iflvigorated  with  those  ajniable 
qualities,  which,  assisted  by  an  intellect  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary power  enabled  him  to  exercise  that  self  control  whicJ> 
so  admirably  fitted  him  to  govern  others,  and  qualified  him 
lor  the  highest  positions,  either  in  civil   or  military  life 

A  short  time  before  his  dissolution  he  remarked  to  his  phy- 
sician that  he  was  about  to  die.  The  physician  replied  •  ''but 
you  are  not  afraid  to  die.'^  His  answer  was  "No  ^"  "Have 
you  a'ny  messatre  for  your  friends  and  companions  at  home  ?'' 

Yes  r  was  the  reply.  -Ttll  them  that  the  blood  of  Jesus 
Christ  cleanseth  from  aU  sm,  I  believe  this  !  "  As  it  was  elo- 
quently remarked  to  the  large  assembly  of  bereaved  friend« 
and  weeping  relatives  that  stood  around  his  new-made  grave 
he  might  have  told  us  of  his  devotion  to  his  country,  and  re- 
minded us  that  he  fell  in  defence  of  her  rights,  and  thereby 
evinced  his  patriotism;  but  his  immortal  spirit  just  before 
Its  departure  to  the  Celestial  City,  turned  with  all  that  inten! 
sity^  that  arises  from  a  well  fouuded  hope  beyond  the  grave 
to  that  most  important  subject  that  can  possibly  engage  the 


4 

hiind  oi  men.  And  he  has  iu  a  few  words,  and  those  amoiig 
the  hist  that  he  uttered,  preaclifd  the  most  impressive  ser- 
mop  that  we  have  ey»r  heard.  Let  the  surviving  members 
of  his  company,  to  whose  temporal  tind  sj^iritual  welfare  he 
was  much  devoted — let  surviving  oHicers  and  soldiers  of  the 
llcgiment  to  which  h«  belonged — ^let  his  former  pupils  and 
friends  hear  him,  yea,  let  all  hear  him,  for  being  dead  hcyot 
sp«aketh.  His  dying  testimony  confirms  a  great  gospel  truth, 
which  has  conveyed  Qomfort  to  the  bosoms  of  many  living 
oTHcers,  and  illumined  the  pathway  through  tke  dark  valley 
and  shadow  of  death  of  raany  departing  soldiers.  It  is  wor- 
thy of  all  acceptation.  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleans- 
eth  froiu  all  sin  I'^ 


THE  BLOOD  OF  CHRLST.  C.  M. 

There  is  a  fountain  filPd  with  blood,     , 

Drawn  from  ImmanueFs  veins,* 
And  sinners  plung'd  bwieath  thatflooil, 

Lose  all  their  guilty  stains. 

Th»  dying  thief  rejoic'd  to  see  ' 

That  fountain  in  hi»  day  ; 
And  there  may  I,  as  vile  as  ho, 

Wash  all  my  sins  away. 

Dear  dyi;^  Lamb,  thy  precious  blood 

Shall  nev«r  lose  its  power, 
Till  all  the  ran»omM  church  of  God 

Be  saved  to  sin  no  more. 

E'er  since,  by  faith,  I  saw  the  stream 

Thy  flowing  wounds  supply, 
^H'?.®48^i° glove  has  been  my  theme, 

Andiiehall  be  till  I  die. 


N 


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